eloge

Éloge is a French noun meaning praise or encomium, used for a formal tribute that extols a person, achievement, or idea. In rhetoric, it can refer to a spoken tribute, such as a funeral oration, or to a written piece that extols its subject.

Origin and usage: The term originates in French and denotes a positive appraisal extended in a measured, sometimes ceremonial, form. In common expressions, éloge funèbre denotes a funeral eulogy; more broadly, an éloge can be a laudatory essay, obituary, or commemorative note about a person, institution, or concept.

Notable uses: The phrase appears in famous titles such as Éloge de la Folie (In Praise of Folly) by Erasmus, and in contemporary works like Éloge de la lenteur (In Praise of Slowness) by Carl Honoré and Éloge de la paresse (In Praise of Laziness) by Paul Lafargue. These examples illustrate the form’s versatility, ranging from satire to advocacy.

Translations and usage: In English, the closest equivalent is eulogy, though éloge in French covers broader praise beyond funeral remarks. The term also appears in academic and cultural contexts as the title or subject of praise-related writings and commemorations. See also eulogy, encomium.